PhRMA Statement on PCORI Nominees

PhRMA Statement on PCORI Nominees

Washington, D.C. (June 30, 2010) – The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) issued the following statement about PhRMA’s nominees for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s Board:

“The recently enacted health care reform law created a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and accompanying board of directors tasked with improving patient care in the U.S. by advancing a patient-focused comparative effectiveness research agenda. Three of the 21 seats on the PCORI board were dedicated to innovative companies representing the biopharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical device sectors, which all share the common mission of helping patients win their battles against disease.

“All four candidates not only have advanced medical degrees, they also have extensive backgrounds in clinical research and public health. Such experience allows them to bring to the table valuable scientific, clinical, policy and research expertise as they work to support the Institute’s goals.

“As we stated in our letter to the GAO, all of the candidates can serve as effective, constructive representatives of the biopharmaceutical sector – a truly innovative sector dedicated to the research and development of life-enhancing and life-saving medicines – as they join other board members in advancing an objective, high-quality, patient-centered program of comparative effectiveness research. What’s more, each candidate has a strong commitment to the success of the Institute because each believes that a sustained program for patient-centered outcomes research holds great potential for improving patient care in the U.S.”

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $50.3 billion in 2008 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $65.2 billion in 2008.